Latest news with #PIN
Forbes
2 days ago
- General
- Forbes
New Phone PIN And Password Attack List Revealed — Do Not Wait, Act Now
Change your PIN code and password now if it's on these lists. Sometimes, the most critical security threats are right there in front of you. That's certainly the case when it comes to the passwords and PIN codes that you use to protect your devices, data and services. Here's the thing: when you opt for ease of use, memorability, something quick and simple to tap into your smartphone when you're on the move, you're playing into the hands of the hackers who would attack you. Unfortunately, the common perception of some geeky kid sitting a million miles away at a computer and using their genius to crack your password remotely is, well, as far from reality as you can get. Reports are circulating of an active campaign in which threat actors knock on doors, pretending to be from a bank, and actually request a PIN number in person on the doorstep. These, however, also fall into the expiation rather than the rule category. The truth is that criminals like the simple life as much as anyone else, and if your device, your accounts, can be hacked because you've used the wrong password or PIN, then all the better. Which is why, if yours are on this newly compiled list, you need to change them as an act of some urgency. Here's what you need to know. I must admit, the idea of someone knocking on your door to ask for a bank card and PIN struck me as utterly bizarre. But then again, he who dares wins isn't just the motto of the SAS, but seemingly the most brazen of social engineering hackers. The newly reported doorstep PIN theft campaign is targeting homes in South Africa, but that doesn't mean the rest of us can sit back and relax. I want to think that most readers are sensible enough not to fall for such a con, but what if the hacker already knows your PIN number and has a good idea of what your account passwords are? That's a real and present danger for many reading this article, and it's primarily due to inadequate critical security thinking. Regular readers of mine will be aware that password-stealing malware, commonly referred to as infostealers, has been running riot for years now. Despite the best efforts of the likes of Microsoft and global law enforcement to take down the leading players in this cybercrime circus, billions of passwords have been stolen and are available for sale on the dark web. The best advice I can give you is, as always, never to reuse any of your passwords across multiple devices, accounts and services. Never share the same password between even two logins, as you've just doubled the chance of getting hacked. But it gets worse when you realize that there are lists of passwords out there that you might already be using, even if only once, that are just as dangerous when it comes to potential compromise. And, sorry to be the bearer of even more bad news, the same applies to your smartphone PIN code. I am partly to blame, albeit in the cause of security awareness and in an attempt to change insecure behaviors, as I recently published lists of PIN codes and passwords that should be avoided. If you missed those original warnings, please do not ignore this one. Here is the ultimate combined list of passwords and PIN codes you should never use. If you are currently using any of these, you should change them as a matter of urgency. Let's start with the PINs. These are a combination of the most commonly used PIN codes that have been identified through the analysis of approximately 29 compromised PINs found in data breach databases, along with some that have been statistically determined to be the least likely to be used by anyone. Now, I know the latter statement sounds like they should be nowhere near a list of dangerous codes, but, and hear me out, as soon as those were published over ten years ago, and because they continue to be circulated as amongst the safest to use, the opposite actually applies. As a hacker, I'd certainly add them to my numbers to try, as people will likely choose them, thinking they are super secure. When it comes to passwords, the following list has been compiled using commonly used passwords that have appeared in global data breach databases across consumer and enterprise use, including various industry sectors. The takeaway being, of course, don't use any of them. If you are using any of these passwords or PIN codes, then it should go without saying that you need to change them immediately. If I know them, other readers know them, and hackers know them, that should be obvious. So, what are you waiting for?
Phone Arena
25-05-2025
- Phone Arena
If you are using these PIN numbers on your iOS or Android phone, change them immediately
PINs are important. You probably have a four-digit PIN to guard access to your phone, your bank account, and other online portals that you want to keep others away from. The problem, according to a report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), is that the PINs most used are so popular that someone might be able to break into a phone they found or stole. ABC went to website "Have I Been Pwned" and analyzed 29 million PIN codes. What they found is pretty disturbing. The most popular four-digit PIN is 1234 and is used as a code by one out of every ten of the millions of codes that ABC looked at. The second most popular PIN is 0000 followed closely by 1111. People are lazy and don't want to have to tax their brains to remember a PIN so they will repeat the same number. The problem is, the bad guys might be able to figure this out and break into a device. PINs in the top ten of usage include 1212 (which repeats 12 twice) and 4444. Another popular series of PINs uses the device owner's year of birth which explains why 1986 is a very popular PIN. Someone born that year is 38-39 years old. Also in the top 20 of PINs used is 2004 which would include those who turned or are turning 21 this year. In countries outside the U.S., the Date/Month format is more popular than the Month/Date format used in America. Thus, special days that can be converted into four-digit PINs should also be avoided such as 2512 (December 25th-Christmas). You should also avoid 1225. Some popular four-digit PINs are popular because those who use it think that they are clever. For example, 1342 is the most popular code; it is simply a play on 1234. You might wonder why 2580 is in the top 40. If you can't figure out why that combination is so popular, look at the dial pad on your phone. See it now? It's the four numbers straight down starting with the number two. The math reveals the problem. Let's say someone steals a phone and has ten chances to guess before getting locked out or having the data automatically wiped. If the guesses are limited to the 50 most popular PINs, the chance of guessing the correct PIN can be as high as 15% according to Gemini. I don't know about you, but that is a concerning figure if you ask me. To reduce those odds, stay away from using the 50 most popular four-digit PINs: 1234-Popularity 9.0% 1111-Popularity 1.6% 0000-Popularity 1.1% 1342-Popularity 0.6% 1212-Popularity 0.4% 2222-Popularity 0.3% 4444-Popularity 0.3% 1122-Popularity 0.3% 1986-Popularity 0.3% 2020-Popularity 0.3% 7777-Popularity 0.3% 5555-Popularity 0.3% 1989-Popularity 0.3% 9999-Popularity 0.2% 6969-Popularity 0.2% 2004-Popularity 0.2% 1010-Popularity 0.2% 4321-Popularity 0.2% 6666-Popularity 0.2% 1984-Popularity 0.2% 1987-Popularity 0.2% 1985-Popularity 0.2% 8888-Popularity 0.2% 2000-Popularity 0.2% 1980-Popularity 0.2% 1988-Popularity 0.2% 1982-Popularity 0.2% 2580-Popularity 0.2% 1313-Popularity 0.2% 1990-Popularity 0.2% 1991 Popularity-0.2% 1983-Popularity 0.2% 1978-Popularity 0.2% 1979-Popularity 0.2% 1995-Popularity 0.2% 1994-Popularity 0.2% 1977-Popularity 0.2% 1981-Popularity 0.2% 3333-Popularity 0.2% 1992-Popularity 0.2% 1975-Popularity 0.2% 2005-Popularity 0.2% 1993-Popularity 0.2% 1976-Popularity 0.2% 1996-Popularity 0.2% 2002-Popularity 0.2% 1973-Popularity 0.2% 2468-Popularity 0.2% 1998-Popularity 0.1% 1974-Popularity 0.1%
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Forbes
Change Your PIN Code Now If It's On This List
Change your PIN now if it is on this list. getty Passwords are under attack, that's a given. Whether it's from initial access malware looking to open up networks for ransomware attacks, public databases containing hundreds of millions of stolen plaintext credentials, or state-sponsored threat actors with spying on their minds. Nobody can say they are unaware of the dangers of weak or reused passwords, but what about your PIN code? Yes, those four digits that are used when unlocking your smartphone and all the valuable data it provides instant access to. OK, so you might argue that you use your fingerprint or face to unlock your Android or iPhone, which is fair enough, apart from when there's been an update, reset, or something goes wrong and you have to resort to your PIN after all. What if there were a list of 50 PIN codes that should, under no circumstances, be used? Read on. PIN codes are not, let's face it, the most secure means of restricting access to your valuable smartphone. Yet they are used to lock your SIM card and the device itself. They underpin, if you'll excuse the pun, the biometrics that you rely upon to gain quick and safe access to your iPhone or Android when you are out and about, and are required under certain circumstances, whether you have fingerprint or facial recognition enabled or not. I mean, do the math, and you'll learn that a four-digit PIN 'only' requires 10,000 attempts at the most in order to crack it, if you include 0000 and 9999. That's still a lot of faffing around, of course, and there are far easier and much quicker ways to crack certain PIN codes. And that, dear reader, is where the danger list comes in. When it comes to advice about choosing a PIN code for your smartphone, if you want to prevent friends and family, even work colleagues, from being able to take a quick look at your stuff when you pop to the toilet without it, it's best to avoid birthdays and anniversaries. That's another given. But what if they could have a really good chance of cracking what appears, to you and many others at least, like a random code that has no obvious personal connection? An analysis of more than 29 million PIN codes that turned up in data breach lists, discovered that one in ten people used the same four numbers. That analysis produced a list of the top 50 PIN codes found, and as such, these are the ones used by most people and so the ones to avoid. After all, if I can find this list, so can smartphone thieves. Here's the list of 50 PIN codes you should never use. I sorted the list into numerical order to make it easier to check to see if you were using a dangerous PIN, but here are the top ten by most-used code numbers: My advice, however, is not to stop using PINs but simply to use longer ones. Instead of four-digit codes, use ten. This is easy to do by opting to use a password instead of a PIN number to lock your phone, and just employ numbers instead of characters. A custom PIN, that can still be easy to remember but is much, much harder for anyone to guess.
Daily Tribune
16-05-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
38 Filipinos take part in baking skills training sessions
Thirty-eight Filipinos are participating in a two-Friday baking skills training initiative hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Manama, as part of the 43rd anniversary celebrations of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The training sessions, scheduled for May 9 and May 23 at the embassy premises in Adliya, are being jointly organized by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and community group Pinay Ikaw Na (PIN). The initiative aims to equip overseas Filipinos with practical skills and foster a stronger sense of community. Among the attendees is 37-year-old Francis Llaneta, a massage therapist who traveled from Malkiya to join the first session. 'I participated in the training because it presented an opportunity for me to enhance my skills, which I aspire to apply upon my return home,' said Llaneta, who has been residing in Bahrain for over two years, working as a massage therapist. Participants come from diverse professional backgrounds, including domestic helpers, nurses, receptionists, and sales personnel. The course covers fundamental baking techniques, essential recipes, and expert tips for creating a variety of confections. Sessions are led by professional baking instructor and entrepreneur Ivy Ancheta of IVBakes, who generously shared her expertise with the group. 'This baking training offers the participants a chance not only to learn a valuable skill, but also to network with fellow Filipinos and build a sense of community,' said Dinah Sta. Ana, president of PIN.
Filipino Times
12-05-2025
- General
- Filipino Times
Skills training in baking: OFWs join embassy workshop in celebration of OWWA anniversary
On 9th May 2025, 37-year-old Francis Llaneta, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), undertook a 1.5-hour bus journey from his home in Malkiya to the Philippine Embassy in Manama, located in Adliy, demonstrating his dedication to acquiring new skills. He was one of 38 attendees enthusiastic to learn the art and science of baking. The two-Friday baking skills training initiative is part of the celebrations marking the 43rd anniversary of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The program scheduled on May 9 and May 23 is jointly coordinated with the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and Pinay Ikaw Na (PIN), reflecting a collaborative effort to empower the Filipino community overseas. Francis stated in an interview, 'I participated in the training because it presented an opportunity for me to enhance my skills, which I aspire to apply upon my return home.' Francis has been residing in Bahrain for over two years, working as a massage therapist. He was joined by other Filipinos from various professions in Bahrain. The training course also had a multi-gathering group, composed of housemaids, nurses, receptionists, and salesladies united in a common goal of learning something new and broadening their perspective. In her warm welcome address, OWWA Welfare Officer Juvilyn Anns Gumabay expressed OWWA's deep appreciation to both the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and Pinay Ikaw Na (PIN), acknowledging the synergistic efforts of these organizations in providing comprehensive support and empowering Filipino workers navigating life abroad. Furthermore, Gumabay extended sincere thanks to the attendees for their participation and commitment to learning about and supporting OWWA's programs for OFWs. The presence of the participants signifies a collective desire to contribute to the success and well-being of the Filipino community in Bahrain. The training commenced with a moment of reflection and solidarity with a prayer initiated by Mary Agnes Haydee Dabucol, the auditor of PIN. The activity was joined by a special video featuring OWWA Administrator Arnel Ignacio. In his message, Administrator Ignacio extended his warmest greetings on the occasion of OWWA's 43rd anniversary, highlighting its continued dedication and extensive service to overseas Filipinos. MWO Officer In Charge (OIC), Celia V. Cabadonga's inspirational message underscored the significance of this anniversary, highlighting the continuous dedication and hard work of OWWA in assisting OFWs and their families. For over four decades, OWWA has been a beacon of hope and support for millions of Filipinos who have ventured abroad in search of better opportunities. It has consistently strived to provide a comprehensive range of services, from pre-departure orientation seminars to repatriation assistance, skills training, scholarship programs, and various welfare A representative from the Land Bank of the Philippines was also present to discuss ways to assist migrant workers in saving while employed abroad to ensure their future security. Meanwhile, Dinah Sta. Ana, president of PIN, said, 'This baking training offers the participants a chance not only to learn a valuable skill, but also to network with fellow Filipinos and build a sense of community.' She expressed her sincere gratitude to all the participants for their presence and acknowledged the hard work of the PIN officers who worked diligently to enable the smooth flow of the program, making it successful and effective. Their commitment to community service is proof of PIN's vision to enhance Filipino culture, empowerment, and unity. The baking training aims to equip the participants with practical skills that can benefit from personal enrichment, potential income, or even future entrepreneurial ventures. They will learn the basic baking techniques, recipes, and tips for delectable confections. Attendees were led and guided by Ms. Ivy Ancheta, a professional baking instructor and entrepreneur of IVBakes, who graciously imparted her skills and expertise in the craft to shape her students and transform them into confident creators. Her patient and encouraging teaching techniques created a supportive learning environment, where questions were attended to and slips were seen as opportunities for growth. 'This training is really great help for us. I'm thankful to OWWA and the Philippine Embassy for giving us opportunities like this,' said Victoria Dumrique, the liaison officer of PIN, whose determination reflects the resilience and drive of many Filipinos working overseas. Despite being an experienced baker, Dumrique is eager to learn more techniques and enhance her abilities. For Francis and Victoria, acquiring knowledge and expanding one's knowledge is an affirmation of the Filipino resilience in the challenges of overseas work. Their eagerness to learn and acquire skills manifests a profound aspect of the Philippine diaspora: a firm determination to succeed, to adapt, and to contribute meaningfully to both the Philippines and their foreign home. (Cecil Ancheta)
